Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are microscopic roundworms that infect the root of more than 2000 plant species, including major crop species. RKN infection results in general nutritional deficiency symptoms that resulted in loss in crop yield and productivity.

The Pacific region is an ideal place for studying human evolution, variation, and adaptation. It has a complex history of both ancient and recent human migrations, variable levels of population interactions and a range of potential source populations.

Animal pollination plays a critical role in seed set and maintenance of genetic diversity for most plant species. When these plants are co-opted into agriculture this becomes just one of many factors that influence productivity, but one that is usually paid scant attention.

Having spent much of my working life studying sexual conflicts in animals, I have grown increasingly absorbed by human relations and how evolutionary, economic and cultural forces combine to make sex and reproduction so much more complicated than happily ever after.